UPDATED
Manitoba’s Chief Justice Glenn Joyal has denied an application from Springs Church to allow them to continue to hold drive-in church services.
Springs Church took the province to court after it and two of its pastors were fined more than $32,000 for holding four drive-in church services last weekend in contravention of public health orders.
In a rare Saturday court hearing, Justice Joyal listened to arguments from the church that the services are safe and no different than waiting in line at a drive-thru or curbside pickup. Lawyers for the church were also trying to argue that the drive-in services qualify as ‘remote’ services and are also ‘social services’ that can continue under public health orders.
Provincial lawyers argued that the church has not shown any evidence of harm caused by listening to a service online as opposed to in a vehicle. They also noted that it would be virtually impossible to legally exempt Springs Church from public health orders and not any other religious organization.
In the end, the judge denied the application from Springs Church. The ruling means that the church is not exempt from public health orders and is not allowed to hold drive-in services.
Under current public health orders that expire on December 11, places of worship must be closed to the public but does allow services over the internet. Springs Church has been streaming its drive-in services on Facebook and YouTube.
A posting on the church’s website late Saturday afternoon noted that only online services would be held this weekend.
© News4.ca 2020
